Window construction



April 23, 1935.

J. SZEKERES v WINDOWv CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 22, 1932r l llllllllll d a .eL 11.11, 4, f .u l,

April 23, 1935. J. szEKx-:RES

WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. l22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H6/nge y Patented Apr. 23, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE WINDOW CONSTRUCTION John Szekeres, Chicago, Ill. v Application september 22, i932, serial No. 634,276

- 2 claims. (c1. ifs- 202) The invention relates generally to Window constructions, and more particularly to the type in which the sash or sashes areV slidable. n

The general object of the invention is to provide a new and improved window construction having a sash or sashes which are vertically slidable and which are likewise hinged so that they may be swungfinwardly to facilitate washing them, said construction being such that it has all the means for making it weather-tight that may be found in the ordinary type having .a sliding sash. v 1

Another object is to provide a window construction of this character having counterbalancing means on both sides of the sash, with that on the side opposite the hinge manually releasable to permit the sash to be swung.

A still further object is to provide a window construction having the foregoing features, which is relatively inexpensive to'construct, neat in appearance, and convenient to operate.

Other objects and 'advantages will become'apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

Y which:

' Figure 1 is a perspective view of the inner side of a window embodying the features of the invention, and showing the sashes in their closed positions.

Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view but showing the sashes swung inwardly.

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged fragmentary views of one of the retainingstrips.` Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectionalview taken along the `line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 6*(5 of Fig.v2. Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged fragmentary vviews showing the hinge means for the lower sash.

Fig.A 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view show ing the hinge means for the upper sash.

Fig. l0 is a fragmentary view showing the counterbalancing means for one of the sashes.

Fig. l1 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken along the line H-i i ofV Fig. 10. Fig-l2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line I2-i2 of Fig. l1 and showing the sash unlocked from the counterbalancing means. i Y Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. l2 but showing the sash locked to the counterbalancing means. The embodiment described herein comprises generally a frame of the usual type arranged to receive a `sliding sash. A retaining strip is provided at oneside of the frame for lguiding the sash'in its sliding movement, which strip is provided with a portion which may be moved to an cut-of-the-way position to permit the sash to swing inwardly. The retaining strip at the other side of the window and the adjacent portion of the sash are provided with detachable hinge parts which Ypermit the sash to slide and which may be engaged to permit the sashto beswung inwardly Said hinge parts are so positioned that the sash will be above the window sill and will clear said sill when swung inwardly.

When two'sashes are used, an upper and a lower, slidable in different planes, lthe retaining strips for both edges at the free side have portions which may be moved to an out-of-the-way position. At the other or pivotal side, the retaining strip for ythe inner sash, which is usually the lower sash, is hinged Yto the frame so that when said inner sash is swung inwardly, this strip may also be swung to provide room for swinging the outer sash inwardly.

Counterbalaneing means are provided, which on the hinged side of the sashes are preferably permanently connected thereto. When it is found desirable to employ Vcounterbalances on the other` side, that is, the side at which the sashes swing away from the frame, means are provided for detachably connecting the counterbalances on said side to thesashes so that they may be disconnected to permit the sashes to be easily swung. f

As shown in the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the'invention comprises a frame, indicated generally at 2Q, and comprising a sill 2i, a pair of stiles 22, and a top rail 23; Within f the frame is slidably mounted a sash or sashes. In the present instance, two sashes are shown, an upper sash 2t and a lower sash 125, slidable verticaily in different planes. Thesill 2i is of the usual type `and its Vupper surface is positioned so 0 that the lower edge of the lower sash 25 is below it when the window is closed in order to make it weather-tight. v

To guide the sliding movement of the sashes, retaining strips are provided, which form grooves, in the usual manner in which the side edges of l the sashes slide. To permit the sashes to be swung, these strips are provided withl portions which are movable to out-of-the-way positions. Thus, for the lower sash 25, which is arranged to vb swung inwardly, the retaining strip on one side, here shown at the left side in Figs. 1 and 2, Y on the inside of the window, comprises a iiXed section 35, preferably the upper part of the'strip, and threemovable sections comprising a lower section 2l and two intermediate sections 28 and 29. The lower section 2 is pivotally mounted, preferably by hinges 3i) having a vertical axis, on the leit stile 22. The two intermediate sections 28 and 29 are pivoted thereto and to each other in end-to-end relation as by hinges 3i and 32.

The upper section Eil of the two intermediate sections abuts against the fixed section 28. To form tight joint therebetween, the abutting ends o these two sections are cut at an angle, as shown at 33 in Figs. l and 2, so that the intermediate section 29 is caused to nt snugly against the stile 22 as it is moved upwardly into abut* ment.

To retain all the movable sections in the closed position, the lower of the two intermediate sections is provided with a lock which cooperates with the angular ends 33 to holdthe movable sections in place. The iorm of lock is usedin other parts or^ the window and is shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.- As shown, the lock comprises a hook 34 extending through a slot in the movable section 28 and pivoted on a plate 35 secured to the movable section. The hook 5d is adapted to enter a slot in the stile 22 and engage the edge of a plate 3l' attached to the stile and extending partially over the slot. To operate the hook, it is formed as one arm oi a bell cranl, the other arm of which constitutes a hand lever which lies within the cross-sectional area of the piece in which the loci: is mounted when locked and may be grasped by inserting ones nger in a slot 3Q cut adjacent the end of the lever 38.

The retaining strip just described may be moved to an out-of-the-way position by releasing the hook 34, then collapsing the two intermediate sections onto the lower section 2"! to move the angular end 33 out of abutment with the iixed section 25, and then swinging the lower section 2l inwardly of the window on the hinges 3Q, as shown in Fig. 2.

To support the lower sash 25 for swinging movement, detachable hinge means is provided comprising separable parts mounted on the sash and the frame respectively. As illustrated, a pair of spaced eyes 'l are mounted on the retaining strip at the right-hand side and pivot pins or hooks il are carried by the lower sash 25, said pins being constructed to be inserted into vthe eyes 4l! by lowering the sash 25.

The eyes il and the pins 4| are positioned to support the sash 25 at a position wherev its lower edge is above the sill 2l to permit it to be swung inwardly. However, the sash must also be capable of being completely lowered. For this reason the pins li may be moved to a position where they cannot engage the eyes i0 in lowering the sash. To this end, each pin il is formed as part of member 42 pivoted on a plate 13 (see Figs. 'I and S) secured to the sash, the member 42 having an outwardly bent portion 44 constituting a hand lever. Thus, when the sash is to be lowered all the way it is raised from the position shown in Fig. 'l to disengage the pins 4l and the eyes 4D, and the members 4Z are then turned to the position shown in Fig. 8 so that the pins 4l will pass the eyes 48 in lowering the sash.

To provide a greater range of turning'for the lower sash 25 and thereby sufficient room for swinging the upper sash 24 inwardly at the same time, the retaining strip on which the lower sash is hinged is provided with a section 5, carrying the eyes Mi, which is pivoted on the frame stile 22 as by hinges 4S. Thus, the lower sash as well as the section 45 may be swung inwardly,

as shown in FigsjZ and 6. The section 45 is provided with a hook 34 as previously described for locking it to the stile 22.

The window is also constructed so that the upper sash 24 may be swung in a similar manner. Thus, the retaining strip at one side of the window, preferably the same side as for the lower sash, here shown at the left side, has a portion which may be moved to an out-of-the-way position. Preferably, this portion is atl the lower portion of the window and comprises three parts, the lowest of which, indicated at Figs. 2, 3 and 4, is pivoted on the bottom of the rameby a hinge 5|. The other two parts, indicated at 52, are pivoted to each other and to the lower part 5!! inend-to-end relation by hinges 53 and 54,

.the upper hinge 54 preferably being a doublejointed hinge. The upper end of the upper part 52 is angularly cut'as at 55 to assist a hook 34, previously described, in holding the movable parts in closed position. To move the three movable parts to an out-of-the-way position, they are collapsed upon one another as shown in Fig. 2 to rest on the bottom of the frame.

To support the upper sash for swinging movement, a pair of eyes 5t (the lower eye not shown) are mounted on the retaining strip for the upper sash at the right-hand side of the window at the lower part thereof and opposite the removable parts 50 and 52. These eyes are adapted to be engaged on lowering of the sash by pins 51, each of which preferably is formed as part of a plate 58 adapted to be secured to the sash (see Fig. 8). To permit the sash when swung to clear the outer retaining strip on the hinged side, it is beveled as at 59 (Fig. 6). Thus, the upper sash may be swung inwardly after the lower sash has been swung inwardly.

As mentioned above, counterbalancingY means is provided for the sashes. It the means for this purpose is to be provided only on one side, it is preferably mounted on the hinged side of the sashes and are permanently attached thereto. As illustrated, each counterbalancing means comprises the usual weight supported on a rope El extending over pulleys G2 mounted in the frame stile 22. The rope 6l may be attached to the sash in the usual manner since, when the sash is swung, its hinged side does not move a great distance out of its normal position.

When the sashes are'of such weight and size that counterbalances are desired on both sides, the counterbalance for the free side of each sash is made detachable. To this end, the sash rope El is attached to a part interposed between the frame and the sash and is detachable from the latter. As illustrated in Figs. l0 to 13, this part comprises a strip 1B slidably mounted in a vertical groove 1I cut in the edge of the sash. The strip 1i) is provided with grooves by means of which the sash cord 6| may be attached thereto. Means is provided for locking the strip. 1B to the sash so that during normal sliding movement ofthe sash, the weight G0 will be effective. As shown herein, the locking means comprises a pair of hooks 12 mounted in a slot in the sash and arranged to hook through holes 13 in a metal face plate 'M secured on the edge of the strip adjacent the hooks. To Swing the hooks 12 into and out of engagement with the strip .16, they are formed as arms of two bell cranks pivoted at 15 on an attaching member 16 comprising a plate bent at a right angle with one portion extending across the slot in which the hooks 12 are mounted hooks l2 may be disengaged from the strip.`

When the cam plate Bi! is turned through ninety degrees, as shown in Fig. 13, it forces the arms apart and'causes the hooks to engage the strip 7i?. A pair of leaf springs Si are provided which tend to retract the hooks 12.

To rotate the cam plate 3Q, it is formed on a stem 82 rotatably secured in a plate 83 adapted to be secured on the inner iaceof the sash. Rigidly attached to the stein 82 is an operating handle 84. To hold the handle S4 in a position when the hooks l2 are engaged, frictional means is provided, such as a lug t5 forced out from the metal of the plate 83, against which the handle 84 abuis, and over which the handle must he forced to move it to the released position.

In the operation ci the window, assume that the sashes are in the normal sliding position. To swing the sash inwardly, the lower sash is raised and the pivot pins 3i swung into position to engage the eyes lli?. By lowering the sash, such engagement is effected. The movable parts of the retaining strip at the left side of the lower sash are moved to an outof-theway position by unlocking the hook 3f; and collapsing the upper two ections 28 and 29 onto the lower section 2l' and then turning them all inwardly of the window on the hinges 3i) to the position shown in Fig.i2. The lower sashv may then be swung inwardly on the pivot pins di on the retaining strip and the latter may also be swung inwardly.

To swing the upper sash, it is lowered until itsY pivot pins 5l engage the eyes 56. The movable parts of the retaining strip may be moved to an out-of-the-way position by collapsing the parts and 52 downwardly as shown in Fig. 2. The uppersash is then free to swing.

In the case where sash weights are provided at both sides of the frame, before engaging the piv-A ots for the sashes, the latter are each movedto the top of the frame for release of the weights Sii. This is accomplished in each instance by turningr the handle 85 over the lug 85 to a position where the cam plate permits the springs 8| to move the hook 12 to a-disengaging position, thus releasing the strip lil from the sash.

In placing the window back in condition for ordinary vsliding movement the reverse operations are performed Y From the above, it will be apparent that I have provided a weather-tight window in which the sash may be moved vertically in the ordinary manner or swung inwardly when desired. The sash be provided with counterweights on both sides when desired, those on the side of the window which swings inwardly being releasable v to permit such movement. It will also be apparent that the window herein shown and described is relatively inexpensive to construct, neat in appearance, and convenient to operate.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a window comprising a sash and a frame therefor constructedto permit the sash to Slide vertically and to move inwardly, the combination ofl aV counterbalance having `a cord extending therefrom, a strip grooved to receive said cord and arranged to be'attached thereto, said sash having a vertical groove in one side edge slidably receiving said strip, an apertured plate extending along one vertical face of said strip, a pair of yhooks pivotallyr mounted in lsaid sash and, movable to and from engagement with the apertures in said piataand a lever mounted on the inner face of said sash for manually moving said hooks toV and from engagement.

2. In a window comprising ka sash and a frame therefor constructed to permit the sash to slide vertically and to move inwardly, the combination of a counterbalance having a cord extending therefrom, a strip attached to the endrof said cord, said sashV having a vertical groove slidably receiving said strip, an aperturedplate mounted on one vertical faceof said strip, and means for locking said sash to said strip comprising a pair of hooks pivotallyiv mountedl in said sash and arranged to be moved from a position lying wholly within said sash to a position where they extend through the apertures in said plates to lock the sash thereto, spring means tending to move said hooks to unlocked position, manually-operable cam means for swinging said hooks to locked po- JOHN SZEKERES. 

